Cabinet door structure



F. R. ECK I'AL CABINET DOOR STRUCTURE June 2, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 16. 1951 Jline 2; 1953 F. n. EcK Erm.

CABINET DooR STRUCTURE.

3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS -FLoyo R. EcK.

wann/y 1.. CHAMBERS, k

VBY

June 2, 1953 F. R. EcK Erm.

CABINET DooR STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 16. 1951 INVENTORS FLOYD R. Ecl( woRw/y L. MAMBRS,

Patented June 2, 1953 CABINETv DOOR STRUCTURE Floyd R. Eck, Des Plaines, and Worthy'L.. Chainbers, Ohicago,.1l1.`, assgnors to Motor Products. i Cormratioxn Detroit, Mieli., a, VYcopperation of New Yorkvv Application July 16, 1951', Serial No. 237,918-

(Cl- 20w-.35)y

14 Claims.

This inventionrelates to an improved door structure for refrigerator cabinets.r

It is one of the lobjects of this invention toprovide a door structure composed of a relatively few simple parts capable 4of being inexpensively manufactured and readily assembled.

It is another object-of this invention to effectively reinforce the door structure rby corner brackets in the vform of substantially L-shaped plates, and to provide a hinge mounting for the door including hinge parts respectively secured tothe legs of the corner brackets extending along one side edge of the door.

It is still another object of this-invention to provide a door structure of the above general type wherein the corner brackets at one side of the door are interchangeable `with the corresponding corner brackets at the opposite side edge of the door, Thus inventory is materially reduced and assembly is greatly expedited.-

It is a further object of this invention to provide -a door structure wherein each of the legs of the corner brackets is embossed-to provide a recess of sufficient dimensionto receive the part of the hinge attached to Vthe door.

A still further object of this inventionis to extend the hinge parts between the marginal edge portionof the inner panel at one side lof the door and the adjacent leg portions of the brackets, and to secure the hinge parts and adjacent marginal edge portions of the inner panelto said leg portions of the brackets.

Still another object of this invention is to provide'a door structure wherein the inner panel terminates short of the bottom edge ofthe outer panel and wherein the resulting gap is closed by a ller strip having the opposite side edge portions respectively secured to the bottom of the outer panel and to the adjacent cerner' brackets.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description prcceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevational View partly brolrenV away of the inner side'of a refrigerator cabinet door structure embodying the features-oi this invention;

Figures 2 to 9 inclusive are respectively sectional views taken on the lines 2 2-, 3;-3, L t, 5 5, 6 6, 1--1, 8-8 and 9-9 of Figure 1;

Figure is a perspective view Aoft-one of the corner brackets employed atthe top. of the door; and

Figure 11v is a perspective viewiof one of the corner brackets emploved'atv the bottomuof the door.l

The refrigerator cabinet 'door 'selected I'herein for the purpose of illustration comprisesv an -outer panel Hl,`an inner panel i i spaced laterally from the outer panel andheat insulating material l2 filling the space between the panels. Thewouter panel is preferably formed 'of sheet "metal,v and is transverselycurved in al forward direction; as clearly shownin 'Figure 2 ofthe drawings. The marginal portions ci the louter-panel le fare turned laterally inwardly to provi-de a reinforcing flange I3 which extends continuously around the perimeter of the outer panel and `is hentforwardly at the inner edge to provide a stiifening flange It.

The inner panel H of the: doorl is preferably formed of -a plurality laminationslof a plastic heat insulating-material, andthe centralportion is bowed inadirectionrtoward the outer reinforcing langei3. The bottom edge of the inner panel il terminates short of the correspending -edge of the outer panel` it, and the 4resulting space is closed by a filler strip i6 which is preferably formed of sheet meta1.= The filler strip lli extends completely across the bottom of the door and serves to reinforce the door structure.- As show-n Figures '7 and S or" the drawings, the bottom edge of the filler strip i6 is welded or otherwise secured to the reinforcing ange i3 at the-bottom of the outer panel ith The top and side marginalportions, i5 of the inner panel are secured tothe adjacent portions of the reinforcing ange `i3 on the outer panel by fastener elements NL'and-are insulated from the reinforcing flange i3 by a'rubber gasket 2t; The rgasket 2ly extends lcompletely around `the perimeterof' the inner panel H' and has a flange 22 at the top and sides thereof.Y The iiange A22` extends between the reinforcing flange 'I3 and the adjacent marginal portions it `of thev inner panel if.

The gasket 2t alsov hasa flange 23 at; the bottom whichforms a continuation of the* flange 22 and projects upwardly between the ller strip I6 and the bottom marginal edge I5 of the inner panel II. The marginal edge portion I5 of the inner panel I I has a recess 24 which receives an enlargement 25 on the flanges 22 and 23 of the gasket to locate the latter relative to the inner panel II. It will also be noted that the flanges 22 and 23 are respectively secured to the reinforcing flange I3 on the outer shell Il) and to the filler strip I6 by the fastener elements I1 and 2D.

The gasket 2I is further provided with a lip 26, which overlies the rear side of the marginal portions I5 on the inner door panel II and engages the latter inwardly beyond the fastener elements I'I and 20. The lip 26 has a hollow head portion 2'I, which is deformable and is positioned to engage the front wall of a refrigerator cabinet 30 around the access opening in the cabinet to provide a door seal.

In the present instance the door is hingedly connected along one side edge to the refrigerator cabinet 3U by a pair of hinges 3| having cooperating parts 32 and 33 respectively pivotally connected by vertical pins 34. The hinge parts 32 are secured to the cabinet by fasteners 35 and the hinge parts 33 are positioned at the rear sides of the reinforcing anges I3 on the door. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the reinforcing flange I3 is embossed toward the outer panel I of the door to provide recesses 36 for respectively receiving the hinge parts 33. rEhe depth of the recesses 36 approximates the thickness of the hinge parts 33 so that the rear face of the hinge parts 33 lies flush with the corresponding face of the flange I3. The arrangement is such that the sealing flange 22 on the gasket 2l and the marginal edge portion I of the inner door panel II extend over the hinge parts 33.

The door structure forming the subject matter of this invention is braced at each of the four corners of the inner door panel II by an angle bracket 3'I housed within the space between the inner and outer panels I0 and II respectively of the door. Each angle bracket is in the form of an L-shaped metal plate reinforced by a ange 38 extending toward the outer door panel I0 from the inner marginal edges cf the leg portions 39 and 40 of the plate,

The angle brackets at the top corners of the door are identical in construction, or in other words, are interchangeable; and are indicated by the numeral 4I. The leg portions 39 of the brackets 4I are welded to the front face of the portion of the reinforcing flange I3 which extends across the top of the door, and the leg portions 40 are respectively welded to the portions of the flange I3 which extend along opposite side edges of the door. The legs of the brackets 4I have openings 42 for receiving certain of the fastener elements 20, which may be in the form of selftapping screws.

As shown in Figures 6 and 10 of the drawings, each leg of the brackets 4I has a portion embossed in a direction toward the outer door panel I0 to provide a recess 43 having openings 44 in the base portion thereof. The recesses 43 in the legs of the brackets 4I are so located and dimensioned that regardless of which of the two brackets 4I is located at the hinged edge of the door, one of the recesses 43 registers with the top hinge part 33 and receives the adjacent embossed portion of the reinforcing flange I3. The top hinge part 33 is secured to the adjacent bracket 4I by selftapping screws 45 threaded into the openings 44.

The angle brackets at the bottom corners of the inner door panel I I are also identical in construction and are interchangeable. These brackets are indicated by the numeral 46 and the horizontal leg portions'39 are welded to adjacent portions of the ller strip I6, shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. The vertical leg portions 4D are respectively welded to the portions of the reinforcing fiange I3 at opposite `side edges of the door. The legs of the brackets 46 also have openings therein for receiving certain of the fastener elements I'I and 20.

As shown in Figures 9 and 1l of the drawings, each leg of the brackets 46 has a portion embossed in a, direction toward the outer panel I0 to provide a recess 4l. The recesses 41 are so located and dimensioned that regardless of which of the two brackets 46 is located at the hinged edge of the door, one of the recesses 47 registers with the part 33 of the bottom hinge 3I, and receives the adjacent embossed portion of the reinforcing flange I3. The base portions of the recesses 41 have openings therethrough and self-tapping screws 48 are employed to securely fasten the hinge part 33 to the adjacent bracket 46.

Each of the brackets 3l is preferably provided with means for locating the same in assembled relationship with the door prior to welding the brackets in place. In the present instance the above is accomplished by providing a projection 48 on each leg adjacent the free end of the latter, and by forming suitable indentations in the appropriate parts of the door structure for receiving the projections.

The four corner brackets 31 cooperate with one another to eifectively brace the door structure and render it unnecessary to provide a structural frame around the perimeter of the door. Also the corner brackets 37 render it possible to hang or hinge either side edge of the door to the refrigerator cabinet structure. Moreover the brackets 4I at the top of the door are interchangeable, and the brackets 46 at the bottom of the door are also interchangeable. Thus assembly of the door is greatly expedited and production of the brackets is simplified. It is also important to note that the brackets at the hinged edge of the door provide rigid mountings for the hinge parts attached to the door, and that all of the brackets cooperate to provide a more rigid mounting for the inner door panel II on the outer panel III.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A refrigerator cabinet door structure comprising a substantially rectangular outer panel having the marginal portions extending rearwardly and turned inwardly to provide a reinforcing flange, a substantially rectangular shaped inner panel spaced laterally from the outer panel having marginal portions overlying the rear sides of the reinforcing ange and secured to said ange, means for reinforcing the corners of the door at the top of the latter, including L-shaped brackets located within the space between the panels in overlying relationship to the front side of the reinforcing flange and respectively secured to said ange at the top corners of the door, the L-shaped brackets at one side of the door being interchangeable with :the L-shaped brackets at the opposite side of the door and each bracket having provision for attaching a hinge part strip extending across the bottom of the door and having the opposite side edges respectively secured to the reinforcing flange at the bottom of the outer panel and to the bottom edge portion of the inner panel.

3. The refrigerator cabinet door structure deiined in claim l, wherein the outer panel is composed of sheet metal and is transversely curved in a forward direction, and wherein the inner panel is composed of a heat insulating plastic material and is bowed in a direction toward the outer panel.

4. A refrigerator cabinet door structure coinprising a substantially rectangular outer panel having the marginal portions extending rear-- wardly and turned inwardly to provide a reinforcing fiange, a substantially rectangular shaped inner panel spaced laterally from the outer panel having marginal portions overlying the rear sides of the reinforcing flange and secured to said flange, an I -shapcd bracket at each top corner of the door having angularly disposed legs respectively overlying the front sides of the reinforcing ange extending along adjacent side edges of the door, and a hinge part at one vertical edge or" the door extending between -d secured to both the marginal portion of the inner panel and the vertical leg of the adjacent L-shaped bracket.

5. The refrigerator cabinet door structure defined in claim 4, in which heat insulating material is provided between the hinge part and ad jacent marginal portion of the inner door panel.

6. The refrigerator cabinet door structure defined in claim 4, wherein the portion of the leg to which the hinge part is secured and the ad jacent portion of the reinforcing naiige are ernbossed to provide a recess for receiving the hinge part.

7. The refrigerator cabinet door structure deiined in claim 6, wherein the L-Shaped brackets at opposite side edge portions of the door are interchangeable. f

8. The refrigerator cabinet door structure defined in claim 8, wherein the legs of each L- shaped bracket are embossed to accommodate the hinge part.

9. A refrigerator cabinet door structure comprising a substantially rectangular shaped outer panel having a marginal inturned flange, a substantially rectangular shaped inner panel spaced laterally from the outer panel and having marginal edge portions secured to the ange, substantially L-shaped brackets respectively positioned at the top corners of the door and having the legs respectively secured to the portions of the inturned flange extending along adjacent side edges of the door, additional substantially L-shaped brackets respectively positioned at the bottom corners of the inner panel and having vertically extending legs respectively secured to the inturned ange extending along opposite sides of the door, the brackets at one side edge of the door being interchangeable with the brackets at the opposite side edge of the door and each bracket having provision for attaching a hinge part thereto.

10. The refrigerator cabinet door structure dened in claim 9, wherein the outer panel extends below the bottom edge of the inner panel and wherein the resulting gap is closed by a ller strip extending across the bottom of the door and having the opposite side edges respectively secured to the inturned flange at the bottom of the outer panel and to the adjacent legs of the bottom brackets.

l1. The refrigerator cabinet door structure defined in claim 9, wherein hinge parts respectively extend between the legs of the L.-shaped brackets extending along one side edge of the door and the adjacent marginal portion of the inner door panel, and wherein means is provided for securing the hinge parts to last named legs of the L-shaped brackets.

12. rThe refrigerator cabinet door structure deiined in claim 11, wherein the inturned ange on the outer door panel has embossed portions respectively registering with the hinge parts and forming recesses within which the hinge parts are respectively seated, and wherein the L-shaped brackets have a recess in each of the legs of sufficient dimension to receive the embossed portions of said inturned flange 13. A refrigerator cabinet door structure comprising a metal outer panel, a plastic inner panel spaced laterally from the outer panel and having marginal edge portions secured to the outer panel, L-shaped reinforcing brackets respectively located between and secured to said panels at the four corners of the door, said brackets having certain of the legs extending horizontally adjacent the upper and lower horizontal edges of said door and having the other legs extending vertically adjacent the vertical edges of the door, the vertically extending legs of the brackets at one vertical edge of the door having provision for attaching hinge leaves thereto, said panels and brackets coacting to provide a rigid door structure without the aid of a supporting frame.

14. A refrigerator cabinet door structure comprising a metal outer panel, a plastic inner panel spaced laterally from the outer panel and having marginal edge portions secured to the outer panel, L-shaped reinforcing brackets respectively located between and secured to said panels at the four corners of the door, said brackets having certain of the legs extending horizontally adjacent the upper and lower horizontal edges of said door and having the other legs extending vertically adjacent the vertical edges of the door, the vertically extending legs of the brackets at one vertical edge of the door having provision for attaching hinge leaves thereto, and a strip extending across the bottom of the door at the inner side thereof and having the opposite end portions respectively secured to the L-shaped brackets at the lower corners of the door, said panels, brackets and strip coacting to provide the sole supporting structure for the door.

FLOYD R. ECK. WORTI-IY L. CHAMBERS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,860,439 Thies May 3l, 1932 2,276,778 Hull Mar. 17, 1942 2,277,483 Ellsworth Mar. 24, 1942 2,307,159 Rundell Jan. 5, 1943 2,332,195 Bergstrom Oct. 19, 1943 2,433,272 Greiling Dec. 23, 1947 

